This week's MP's column comes from Naz Shah, Labour MP for Bradford West

These days, technological advances are being made at a rate that is almost too fast for us to keep up with. As we find ourselves feeling more and more distant from the technology and experiences of our childhoods, we also see a gap widening between our own childhood hobbies and activities, and those of our children.

Naturally, some of these changes should be embraced – particularly the developments in educational and medical technology. But some of our activities and experiences, especially those which take place outdoors, must not be lost. We must make an effort to ensure technology and indoor activities do not replace opportunities to go outside.

We are all guilty of nostalgically telling our children that ‘back in our day’ there were no tablets or devices we could spend the day playing on. That if we wanted to play, we would go to the local park or green space and that they should do the same. Yet, we are slowly losing these spaces and the few we have left are sadly being allowed to degenerate into unusable condition.

In 2019, the Fields in Trust’s Green Space Index showed that over 2.5 million people live more than a 10-minute walk from their nearest green space. Even if distance isn’t a problem for some, the space itself often is.

I recently visited the Manningham Mills Community Association football/cricket fields, situated on Scotchman Road in my constituency of Bradford West. When I was shown around the area, I was hugely concerned by condition of the Council owned fields adjacent to those which belong to the association. These fields were covered with litter and completely unsafe for anyone who wished to use them.

It is somewhat problematic for us to tell young people to go outdoors and make use of green space, when these spaces are either disappearing or in no fit state to be used.

The need to keep our green spaces is not just an environmental issue but a health one too. We know that we must reduce obesity levels and support young people to stay fit and healthy. Indeed, it is now clear that there are links between obesity and complications arising from COVID-19. As such, rising obesity rates are hugely troubling.

According to Bradford Council’s Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, 22.5% of children in Reception in Bradford District are overweight or obese; this compares to 22.6% in England. By the time children are measured again in Year 6, 37.9% of children in Bradford District are overweight or obese; this compares to 34.2% in England. This only goes to show how healthy young children are increasingly becoming overweight throughout primary school.

Of course, there are many factors contributing to this, of which poor diet is only one. socioeconomics is also a major factor, amongst others. Included in the list of factors is exercise levels, and linked to this, the ability to actually lead an active lifestyle.

This is why the availability of the green spaces for sports and other outdoor activity is so important. Not least for combatting obesity but also for helping to develop local sporting talent and giving our children and young people the very best childhood experiences.

This is why after visiting the site on Scotchman Road, I wrote to the Council asking for the site to be refurbished and for previously promised investment to be reinstated.

I was delighted by the response I received from Cllr Susan Hinchliffe, the leader of Bradford Council. She explained that that local ward councillors were raising similar issues and that as lockdown measures ease, the Council will be looking to progress plans to ensure the space is developed for more suitable use.

Additionally, from next month, on another part of the Scotchman Road site, the former allotments will be brought back into use as a recreational site. This will include working with partners to bring the all-weather pitch back into use for educational and community use.

Meanwhile, I will continue to engage with the Council, to ensure the needs of constituents are met. I do believe the funding the Council has allocated for Playing Pitches and Playable Spaces over the next 5 years is a step in the right direction.

Many of our childhoods were built on the green spaces we were able to use and make the most of. It is important that we protect the green spaces that we have and pass them onto Bradford's future generations.